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Australian Adventist educator receives highest academic title in Thailand

Warren Shipton becomes the first foreigner to receive the highly-coveted recognition.

Apr 06, 2017|Wahroonga, New South Wales, Australia|Maritza Brunt, Australian Adventist Record

Warren Shipton said receiving the highest ranking academic title from the Thai palace "gave me a feeling of greater acceptance by the Thai people." [Photo courtesy of Australian Adventist Record]

Warren Shipton, an Australian-native and academician of Asia-Pacific International University in Thailand recently received the highest academic ranking title from the Thai palace for his contributions to education and science.

This is the first time the award of “Professor” has been given to both a foreigner and an academic from a private university in the 100-year history of tertiary education in Thailand.

“Receiving the honor was most unexpected as it has been reserved traditionally for academics at state universities where the title is vigorously guarded,” said Shipton. “I simply could not believe that I was the first foreigner to break through the glass ceiling and, of course, it was a great advertisement for our Adventist university in Thailand.”

Shipton lives in Brisbane but teaches online at Asia-Pacific International University, the only Adventist university in South-East Asia. He is also currently undertaking research for the university, and often travels to Thailand to present courses.

“Personally, it gave me a feeling of greater acceptance by the Thai people,” said Shipton. “That is something that all foreigners seek in the countries they find themselves or seek to serve.”